Dorothy Wellborn

Dorothy Odessa Wellborn – surrounded by her family, passed away July 6, 2014. Born in Broken Bow, OK to Robert Jess and Bertha Hall, October 18, 1915. Mother moved to OKC as a child. The family’s life was centered around Kentucky Avenue Baptist Church. Mother met and married Roy Wellborn at the church in 1933. He was the love and life and light of her life. Four children added to this family – Roy Thomas (deceased), Dorothy Ann, Jack and Shirley. Roy was in World War II in the Army while Mother was at home working the night shift as Rosie the riveter. After the war, Roy went back to work at the flour mill, quickly advancing to work for the International Union. In 1958 he became president of the American Federation of Grain Millers AFL-CIO. They moved to the home office in Minneapolis, MN. They found their passions there – fishing and golfing and traveling the US. Favorite places: Bal Harbor, Miami, FL, Key West, FL and IIwaco, WA, for salmon fishing, Leech Lake, Walker, MN for walleye fishing. Mother’s fried walleye was famous with family and friends. Favorite Memory: Mother dancing with President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House with Roy, debonair in his tuxedo, dancing with Lady Bird nearby. (Great grandson Joshua wore his great grandfather’s tuxedo bow tie to prom this year). When Roy passed away in 1982, Mother moved back to OKC. She continued her golfing with the Lake Hefner Ladies 9-Hole Group until the age of 92. She also drove her car until she was the age of 94. Mother was a beautiful woman, and even more so as she aged. She loved her church, United Methodist Church of the Servant. Mother is survived by her children: Dorothy Ann (Charles Luke), Jack (Deanna), Shirley, Daughter-in-Law, Pat, 9 grandchildren: Jerry Lee Smith, Jr. (Janetta), Jeffrey Smith(Tami), Joey Smith(Julie), Tracy Armstrong(Kevin), Sherri Rose(Monti), Michael Wellborn, John Wellborn, Eric Wellborn, Roy Wade Wellborn, 14 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, sister Alma Lynch, and her caregiver Michelle Hall.